Meeting of EU and Latin American foreign ministers

Press release 166/2005
20 May, 2005


The foreign ministers of EU and Latin American states will gather for meetings in Luxembourg on 26–27 May.

The XII EU–Rio Group Ministerial Meeting, attended by foreign ministers of the EU and Latin American nations, will take place on 26 May. Nowadays nearly all South and Central American countries belong to the Rio Group. In addition, the Caribbean nations are represented by a delegate that changes each year. The Ministerial Meeting will discuss, among other issues, reform of the United Nations, regional integration, social cohesion and the situation in Haiti.

The aim of the EU–Mercosur Ministerial Meeting to be held on 26 May is to propel continuation of the association agreement negotiations which began in the year 2000. Mercosur, the world’s fourth largest economic area, consists of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.

The EU-Andean Community Ministerial Meeting, which will also take place on 26 May, will discuss interregional affairs, integration of the Andies region, the unstable political situation and the drugs issue. Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela make up the Andean Community.

Finland’s delegation to the meetings will be headed by Director General Elina Kalkku of the Department for the Americas and Asia, Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

During the same week in Luxembourg, the II EU–Chile Association Council and the EU–Mexico Joint Council will also meet, and there will be an EU–Central American Ministerial Meeting. Representing the EU at the meeting will be the current and the next Presidency and the European Commission.

Additional information: Anu Vuori-Kiikeri, First Secretary, tel. +358 9 160 56431 and Anne Lammila, Head of Unit, Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 160 56360, mobile tel. +358 40 577 1064.